Long sad story made short

[HankC]

Long sad story made short… I am new to saltwater tanks. I have lots of experience with fresh water systems. I bought a saltwater fish tank with fish from a guy. It was a really good deal on all the equipment and rock. The tank was Ich infested, and my lack of experience led me to miss the early signs. I have never seen salt or fresh Ich before. I have 2 Picasso Clowns left with their Rose Anemone.
I took drastic measures last night once I realized the severity of the problem.
1. Bought 10 gallon QT tank.
2. Fresh RO water dipped the clowns for 5 min.
3. Placed in Low salinity (1.020) high temp 80F 10 gal tank with bubbles and heater
4. Medicated QT tank with Malachite green/formalin per directions 1 drop per gal.
24hrs later the Clowns are still alive and eating. Missing their Anemone.
I have questions about where to go from here. I would like to keep the Clowns in QT until the Ich dies in the main tank. This also give me time to work on setting up the Display tank the way I want it…
Questions:
1.Can the Anemone carry the Ich back to the fish?
2.I would like to the get the Anemone back to the Clowns. What would be the best way to treat the Anemone and maybe a large rock to put in the 10 gal tank to ride out the QT. Products? (Have hangon Skimmer and filter for tank…)
3.There is a Mantis Shrimp (I think basher) in a rock in the display tank about 2” long. Should he stay or go? Can he carry Ich. Same for Crabs and snails?
4.How long should the tank be fishless to ensure Ich is dead?
5.What does a tank with just rock ( a couple of nice soft Corals nothing big) need beside heat and circulation need to stay viable?

I also just noticed that the Main tank now has a layer of fine pure white dust that looks like baking powder over all the rock and equipment. This is resent in the last 48 hrs. Is that part of the Ich?

Thanks in advance I am sure you guys get this all the time from the newbies.
George

 

[steelerfan1]

Long sad story made short… I am new to saltwater tanks. I have lots of experience with fresh water systems. I bought a saltwater fish tank with fish from a guy. It was a really good deal on all the equipment and rock. The tank was Ich infested, and my lack of experience led me to miss the early signs. I have never seen salt or fresh Ich before. I have 2 Picasso Clowns left with their Rose Anemone.
I took drastic measures last night once I realized the severity of the problem.
1. Bought 10 gallon QT tank.
2. Fresh RO water dipped the clowns for 5 min.
3. Placed in Low salinity (1.020) high temp 80F 10 gal tank with bubbles and heater
4. Medicated QT tank with Malachite green/formalin per directions 1 drop per gal.
24hrs later the Clowns are still alive and eating. Missing their Anemone.
I have questions about where to go from here. I would like to keep the Clowns in QT until the Ich dies in the main tank. This also give me time to work on setting up the Display tank the way I want it…
Questions:
1.Can the Anemone carry the Ich back to the fish?
2.I would like to the get the Anemone back to the Clowns. What would be the best way to treat the Anemone and maybe a large rock to put in the 10 gal tank to ride out the QT. Products? (Have hangon Skimmer and filter for tank…)
3.There is a Mantis Shrimp (I think basher) in a rock in the display tank about 2” long. Should he stay or go? Can he carry Ich. Same for Crabs and snails?
4.How long should the tank be fishless to ensure Ich is dead?
5.What does a tank with just rock ( a couple of nice soft Corals nothing big) need beside heat and circulation need to stay viable?
Thanks in advance I am sure you guys get this all the time from the newbies.
George

hi hank,

another newbie here, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

first, as long as your display tank is fish free you don't have to worry about inverts/corals continuing the ich life cycle, so leave then there.

if you can leave that main tank fish free for 10 weeks you should be good.

as far as treating the fish in QT you can use copper (cuprimine) or hypo at below 1.009, but never both together.

believe copper should be for 3 weeks brought up slowly and hypo should be 4 weeks.

i think the medds you put in there are very hard on fish and not sure if they work for ich.

use the search function here on ich and you will be golden.

good luck

 

[tmkx3]

Everything he said above is good. I used copper and left my inverts in the display tank. The copper will kill any inverts. Make sure any equitment you use in the qt you dont EVER use on your display. Oh, also watch for ammonia spikes in the qt. Ammonia usually spikes on the third day! GOOD LUCK